Deicing composition for aircraft parts and surfaces



Patented Oct. 19, 1948 2,451,814 g V DEICINGCOMPOSITION FOR AIRCRAFT raitrs AND summons Theodore Augustine Dissel, Hartford, and Isaac Laird Nowell, Wethersfield, Conn., assignors to United Aircraft Corporation, East Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application March 22, 1946,

' Serial No. 656,536

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a composition and a process for preventing the formation or accretion of ice on solid surfaces. It is particularly useful in preventing th formation of ice on propeller domes, rods, guides, rails, or wires in such thickness or amounts as to become dangerous on ships or aircraft for example.

It is well known that it is difiicult to remove ice that has formed on either metal or non-metal bodies or objects such as cables, rods, guides, and rails, for example, that are provided on such structures as ships, cables, rods, guides, and propeller domes such as are provided on airplanes. It is especially difficult to remove ice when the temperature is quite low, with the result that the hazard of losing control of the craft arises.

With the present invention the formation of dangerous thicknesses of ice on metallic or nonmetallic articles is prevented by coating such articles or applying thereto a mixture of certain water-insoluble esters or partial esters and a water soluble salt or ester.

We have discovered that a composition containing-certain substantially water-insoluble long chain fatty acid esters or partial esters and strongly ionizable water-soluble inorganic salts or a strongly ionizing, relatively non-volatile salt of an alkyl group with an inorganic acid radical can be applied to the surfaces of metal and nonmetal structures or parts, thus lowering the adhesion of ice thereto so that the same can be safely used even at very low temperatures.

Theproportions of the materials used in forming the de-icing composition can be varied widely but we prefer to have a larger amount of the insoluble ester in the composition than of the ionizing material. Mixtures containing proportions between 99 parts by weight of ester to one part by weight of ionizing material and parts by weight of ester to 90 parts by weight of ionizing material have been found to be suitable.

These compositions may be dissolved in suitable solvents or lacquer and paints so that they may be applied by spraying or brushing.

The following specific example are given to illustrate the invention but it is to be understood that the proportions of the ingredients can be varied widely and still produce satisfactory results.

2 Example 1 Sorbitan monopalmitate and powdered anhydrous potassium acetate are thoroughly mixed in a mill or by other mechanical means in the proportion of about 10 to l by weight, thus forming a stiff paste that can be applied to and will adhere to the surfaces that are to be protected, thus facilitating removal of the ice that may form thereon,

Example 2 Sorbitan monostearate and powdered anhydrous potassium acetate are thoroughly mixed in a, mill or by other mechanical mean in the proportion of about 10 to 1 by weight, thus forming a. stiff paste that can be applied to and will adhere to the surfaces that are to be protected, thus facilitating removal of the ice that may form thereon.

Example 3 Ten parts by weight of sorbitan monostearate polyoxyalkylene derivative and one part of finely divided anhydrous potassium ethyl phosphate are thoroughly mixed until a heavy or thick paste is formed which can be applied to surfaces exposed to ice accretion so that the ice can be easily removed from the objects for example by impact, vibration or shear.

Example 4 The following ingredients are mixed together, making a liquid medium which is suitable for application to surfaces to facilitate the removal of ice accretions:

What is claimed is:

1. A de-icing composition, consisting essentially of a, long chain fatty acid partial ester of sorbitan, selected from th group consisting of THEODORE AUGUSTINE DISSEL. ISAAC LAIRD NEWELL.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,098,482 Bashford Nov. 9, 1937 2,322,822 Brown June 29, 1943 2,346,891 Adlin-gton Apr. 18, 1944 2,416,103 Lampton et a1 Feb. 18, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES National Paint Bulletin, Sept, 1943, pages 10, 11, 13, and 15.

Spans and Tweens, Nov. 1942, page 5, 6, 7, and 8. 

